Cops to record Ismail Sabri’s statement tomorrow

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have set tomorrow to record Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s statement over his Facebook posting calling on Malay consumers to boycott Chinese businesses which kept their prices high.

Federal CID deputy director Deputy Comm Datuk Mazlan Mansor confirmed yesterday that police would record Ismail Sabri’s statement tomorrow although the venue had not been confirmed.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said a roundtable discussion is necessary to resolve the furore sparked by the FB post to prevent the matter from getting worse.

“There are a lot of opportunists who want to instigate racism and it is not good for the country.

“We need to get to the bottom of it before it gets worse. We (police) will try to resolve the issue and I strongly urge all parties not to prolong the matter,” he said at the launch of the police college’s smart library yesterday.

Khalid said those who responded to the post would also be called in to facilitate investigations.

“Those from MCA, Gerakan and DAP who had issued statements on this would also have their statements recorded to assist us in the investigations.

“We want to end this as soon as possible so we need everyone’s co-operation in this,” he said, adding that the case was investigated under Section 505B of the Penal Code for making a statement that could cause alarm to the public.